Straight bar knitting machines



April 23, 1968 w. BENTLEY ET AL STRAIGHT BAR KNITTING MACHINES 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 4, 1965 6 Sheets-Sheet g April 23, 1968 w. BENTLEY ET AL I STRAIGHT BAR KNITTING MACHINES Filed Jan. 4, 1965 ima I April 23, I w BENTLEY ET AL 3,379,035

STRAIGHT BAR KNITTING MACHINES Filed Jan. 4, 1965 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 April 23, 1968 w. BENTLEY ET AL 3,379,035

STRAIGHT BAR KNITTING MACHINES Filed Jan. 4, 1965 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 April 23, 1968 w, BENTLEY ET AL 3,379,035

STRAIGHT BAR KNITTING MACHINES Filed Jan. 4, 1965 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 QMW 552 Wm M April 23, 1968 w. BENTLEY ET AL STRAIGHT BAR KNITTING MACHINES 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed Jan 4, 1965 W *7 2 owwul f1 1M Kw &

United States Patent 3,379,035 STRAIGHT BAR KNITTING MACHINES William Bentley, Woodhouse Eaves, near Loughborough,

and Norman Henry Small, Leicester, England, assignors to William Cotton Limited Filed Jan. 4, 1965, Ser. No. 423,117 Claims priority, application Great Britain, Jan. 4, 1964, 458/64 4 Claims. (Cl. 66-88) This invention is for improvements in or relating to straight bar knitting machines of the Cottons patent or similar type having frame and machine bearded needles for making rib fabric.

In these rib machines, when adapted for tuck patterning, the tuck patterning is usually effected by selective pressing and miss-pressing of the beards of the frame needles only.

It has been heretofore proposed to provide a straight bar rib knitting machine having frame and machine bearded needles, and patterning mechanism comprising individual presser elements for the machine needles, a pattern device mounted for operable association with the presser elements and having a predetermined arrangement of pattern bits, and means for operating the pattern device so that dilferent selections of the presser elements cause their associated machine needle beards to press while the remaining machine needle beards miss-press. In the proposed arrangement the pattern device comprises a pattern drum disposed at the front of the machine, presser elements extending in cranked manner from the pattern drum to the machine needles, and link and lever mechanism at the front of the machine extending from the pattern drum to cam operating means.

An object of the invention is to provide patterning means for the machine needles in such improved manner as to avoid the necessity for said mechanism at the front of the machine.

The invention provides a Cottons patent or similar straight bar rib knitting machine having frame and machine bearded needles, and patterning mechanism for the machine needles comprising individual presser slides which are slidably mounted in the sinker bar and each of which has a laterally projecting presser formation at the front of the sinker bar, a pattern device mounted at a rear location for operable association with the presser slides and having a predetermined arrangement of pattern bits, and means for operating the pattern device so that different selections of the presser slides cause their associated machine needle beards to be pressed by their presser formations while the remaining machine needle beards miss-press. Conveniently each presser slide also has a front pressing edge for pressing frame needle beards.

The laterally projecting presser formations for the machine needle beards are conveniently small blocks projecting in offset manner from a side of the presser slide and spaced from the front edge thereof, and the pattern device is adapted for selectively locating the presser slides either rearwardly for pressing of the frame needle beards by their front pressing edges, or forwardly for pressing of the machine needle beards by the laterally projecting presser formations.

The pattern device may be a pattern drum adapted to be racked round for changing selections and to be bodily moved to advance the presser slides. Return of the presser slides may be effected by a movable bar acting on tail butts on the slides. The movable bar is conveniently attached to the pattern drum and engaged in an elongated recess in the slides.

The foregoing and other features of the invention are 3,379,035 Patented Apr. 23, 1968 incorporated in the construction which is hereinafter described as a specific embodiment with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a general sectional view of relevant parts of a Cottons patent straight bar rib knitting machine.

FIGURE 2 is a detail view showing the pressing of frame needle beards.

FIGURE 3 is a similar view to FIGURE 2 showing the pressing of machine needle beards.

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view showing selection of presser slides.

FIGURE 5 is a detail of drive means for a pattern drum in the machine.

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged view of racking means for the pattern drum.

FIGURE 7 is a rear view of the racking means.

FIGURE 8 illustrates a perspective view of the embodiment of FIG. 7.

Referring to FIGURE 1 the machine is represented by frame needles 1 with beards 2, machine needles 3 with beards 4, sinkers 5 in sinker bar 6 supported by rail 7, with associated catch bar 8, jacks 9 and slurcock 10 on slurbar 11.

For each frame and machine needle there is a presser slide 12 mounted in the sinker bar 6 between successive sinkers, these slides 12 being selectively advanceable by pattern bits 13 on a rear pattern drum 14.

The pattern drum 14 is racked round at required intervals, e.g., one rack per course in one direction or in opposite directions in different courses, by suitable racking mechanism to be hereinafter described. The pattern drum 14 is also bodily movable horizontally towards and away from the needles at suitable intervals, e.g., once per course, by cam operated mechanism to be hereinafter r described.

Retraction of the presser slides is obtained by a return bar 15 acting on tail butts 16 on the presser slides and operated by cam means, e.g., the bar is attached to the pattern drum and engages in a recess 15a in the slide.

Each presser slide 12 has a laterally projecting presser block 17, see particularly FIGURES 2 and 3, secured to it at one side thereof spaced from the front edge of the presser slide and having an underside presser edge 18 for the beards 4 of the machine needles 3. The block may be secured by rivets 19.

The front edge 20 of each presser slide 12 is a front presser edge for the beards 2 of the frame needle 1.

Conveniently the front end part of each slider is reinforced by plates 21 secured thereto by rivets 22.

In use of the machine for tuck patterning, the sliders 12 are normally disposed in their rearward position, shown in FIGURE 1, at which the frame needle beards 2 are pressed by the front presser edge 20 of the presser slides, with the laterally projecting presser blocks 17 abutting a lower part 6a of the sinker bar 6. A number of the sliders are selected by the pattern drum and are advanced to a forward position, as shown in FIGURES 2 and 4, whereat the laterally projecting presser blocks 17 press the selected machine needle beards 4.

By this means different selected arrangements of machine needles have their beards pressed while the remaining machine needles miss-press, the selections being changed from time to time, e.g., once per course by operation of the pattern drum and associated mechanism.

Referring to FIGURE 1 the frame needles 1 are carried by the usual frame needle bar 23 which has a bell crank cam follower lever 24 connected to it, the latter engaging the usual raising and lowering cam 25 on the machines main cam shaft 26. Also connected to the frame needle bar 23 is the usual cam operated mechanism for its horizontal movement and an arm of which is shown at 27.

The machine needles 3 are carried by the usual machine needle bar 28 to which is connected a bell crank cam follower lever 29 engaging the usual cam 39 on the shaft 26 for operating the machine needles.

The bodily movement of the pattern drum is effected by mounting the drum on a cam follower lever 31 which engages a cam 32 on the shaft 26. The drum is temporarily held in its advanced position by a cam 33 which is connected to an arm 34 on a shaft 35, the latter being connected by a link 36 to a cam follower 37 engaging a cam 38 on the shaft 26.

For racking the pattern drum 14 it is connected by bevel gearing, FIGURE 5, to racking means, FIGURE 6.

Referring to FIGURE 5, the pattern drum shaft 39 has on it a bevel gear 40 meshing with a bevel gear 41 on a spindle 42. Also on the spindle 42 is bevel gear 43 which is in a housing 44. The spindle 42 has a splined portion 42a mounting the bevel gear 43 so that the spindle is movable with the pattern drum without losing drive contact with the bevel gear 43 which remains meshing with a bevel gear 45a on a spindle 45. Also on the spindle 45 is a bevel gear 46 meshing with a bevel gear 47 on a racking shaft 48.

The racking shaft 48 can be racked in either direction at will by having on it, FIGURES 6 to 8 oppositely toothed ratchet wheels 49, 50 engaged by pawls 51, 52. There are also control discs 53, 54, see particularly FIG- URE 7, engaged by pegs 55, 56 on the pawls 51, 52. The pawls are mounted on arms 57, 58 projecting from bosses 59, 60 on the shaft 48. Also projecting from the bosses 59, 60 are arms 61, 62 to each of which are pivoted two racking arms 63, 64, 65, 66. Therefore by reciprocation of the racking arms selectively and with different amplitudes of movement the pawls will be selectively operable on the ratchet wheels with different increments of racking, the pawls riding on the control discs until they ride off the discs and engage with the ratchet wheel teeth.

For effecting this selective racking to different extents, the lower ends of the racking arms have different length recesses 67, 68, 69, 70 for releasable engagement with a peg 71a projecting from a cam follower 71b engaging a cam 71, FIGURE 1, on the shaft 26, and the racking arms are selectively displaced to releasably engage their recesses with the peg 71a, FIGURE 6, by operation behind each racking arm of a control arm 72 selectively movable by solenoids 73-76, FIGURE 7, in relation to adjustable screw stops 77-80.

Spring 81, FIGURE 6, biasses the cam follower 71, springs 82, 83 bias the pawls, and springs 84-87 bias the racking arms.

When any one of the recesses is engaged with the peg 71a the cam 72 will reciprocate the associated racking arm to the extent controlled by the length of the recess. It thus follows that by this racking means, either of the ratchet Wheels can be racked at any one time one or two racks in either direction, the solenoids being selected for selective operation when required by any convenient electric switch pattern means such for example as an electric programme carrier and reader means such as disclosed in our US. Patent No. 3,287,936.

To act as check means for the pawls 51, 52, the arms 61, 62 are connected by adjustable links 88, 89 to the peg 71a which engages in slots 88a, 89a in the links.

What we claim is:

1. A straight bar rib knitting machine having in combination vertical frame and horizontal machine beard needles, and sinkers, individually movable presser elements separate from said sinkers, infinitely variable patterning means operable on the individually movable presser elements, front presser edges on said individually movable presser elements, means for locating the individually movable presser elements at a position for the vertical frame needle beards to press against said front presser edges for non-patterned knitting on these needles, presser blocks projecting laterally from the individually movable presser elements, and cam operated means adapted to operate the patterning means and cause infinitely variable selections of the individually movable presser elements to advance to a position where infinitely variable selections of the horizontal machine needles have their beards pressed against said presser blocks for infinitely variable patterned knitting on these horizontal machine needles.

2. A straight bar rib knitting machine having in combination vertical frame and horizontal machine needles, a sinker bar having a lower part, and sinkers, presser elements individually movable in said sinker bar separate from said sinkers, infinitely variable patterning means operable on said presser elements, front presser edges on said presser elements, presser blocks projecting laterally from said presser elements, a return bar, cam operated means adapted for moving said return bar against said presser elements for retracting them to a position Where said presser blocks abut against said lower part of said sinker bar and said vertical frame needle beards press against said front presser edges of said presser elements for non-patterned knitting on said vertical frame needles, and cam operated means adapted to operate the patterning means and cause infinitely variable selections of the individually movable presser elements to advance to a position where infinitely variable selections of the horizontal machine needles have their beards pressed against said presser blocks for infinitely variable patterned knitting on these horizontal machine needles.

3. A straight bar knitting machine having in combination vertical frame and horizontal machine needles, a sinker bar having a lower part, sinkers mounted in said sinker bar, presser slides individually slidable horizontally between said sinkers in said sinker bar, an infinitely variable pattern drum operable on said presser slides, reinforced front presser edges on said presser slides, presser blocks projecting laterally from said presser slides, underside presser edges on said presser blocks, a return bar, cam operated means adapted to operate the pattern drum and cause infinitely variable selections of the individually movable presser slides to advance to a position where infinitely variable selections of the horizontal machine needles have their beards pressed against said underside presser edges on said presser blocks for infinitely variable patterned knitted on these horizontal machine needles.

4. In a Cottons patent straight bar rib knitting machine having pairs of vertical frame and horizontal machine needles with beards, a sinker bar having a lower part, and sinkers mounted in said sinker bar, the combination of presser slides one for each of said pairs of vertical frame and horizontal machine needles and mounted in said sinker bar between successive of said sinkers for selective advancement, front presser parts and front presser edges on said presser slides, reinforcing plates secured by rivets to said front presser parts, presser blocks projecting laterally from said presser slides and secured by rivets to the latter at one side thereof spaced from said front presser edges, underside presser edges on said presser blocks of said presser slides, a rear pattern drum having rows of different selections of pattern bits for selective engagement with said presser slides, cam operated racking mechanism for racking said pattern drum round, tail butts on said presser slides, a return bar operable rearwardly on said tail butts, first cam operated means adapted for moving said return bar against said tail butts for retracting said presser slides to a rearward position where said presser blocks abut said lower part of said sinker bar and said beards of said vertical frame needles press against said front presser edges, and second cam operated means for bodily moving said pattern drum horizontally forwards to advance selections of said presser slides to where said beards of corresponding horizontal machine needles press against said underside presser edges on said presser blocks of said selections of presser slides.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 6 3,229,483 1/1966 Woodcock et al. 66102 3,248,901 5/1966 Woodcock et al. 66-82 XR FOREIGN PATENTS 514,607 12/ 1930 Germany. 312,710 6/ 1929 Great Britain.

ROBERT R. MACKEY, Acting Primary Examiner. R. FELDBAUM, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A STRAIGHT BAR RIB KNITTING MACHINE HAVING IN COMBINATION VERTICAL FRAME AND HORIZONTAL MACHINE BEARD NEEDLES, AND SINKERS, INDIVIDUALLY MOVABLE PRESSER ELEMENTS SEPARATE FROM SAID SINKERS, INFINITELY VARIABLE PATTERNING MEANS OPERABLE ON THE INDIVIDUALLY MOVABLE PRESSER ELEMENTS, FRONT PRESSER EDGES ON SAID INDIVIDUALLY MOVABLE PRESSER ELEMENTS, MEANS FOR LOCATING THE INDIVIDUALLY MOVABLE PRESSER ELEMENTS AT A POSITION FOR THE VERTICAL FRAME NEEDLE BEARDS TO PRESS AGAINST SAID FRONT PRESSER EDGES FOR NON-PATTERNED KNITTING ON THESE NEEDLES, PRESSER BLOCKS PROJECTING LATERALLY FROM THE INDIVIDUALLY MOVABLE PRESSER ELEMENTS, AND CAM OPERATED MEANS ADAPTED TO OPERATE THE PATTERNING MEANS AND CAUSE INFINITELY VARIABLE SELECTIONS OF THE INDIVIDUALLY MOVABLE PRESSER ELEMENTS TO ADVANCE TO A POSITION WHERE INFINITELY VARIABLE SELECTIONS OF THE HORIZONTAL MACHINE NEEDLES HAVE THEIR BEARDS PRESSED AGAINST SAID PRESSER BLOCKS FOR INFINITELY VARIABLE PATTERNED KNITTING ON THESE HORIZONTAL MACHINE NEEDLES. 